Lens device, lens system, imaging device, movable lens operation device, lens driving method, and lens driving program

ABSTRACT

A lens device includes: a movable lens capable of being moved in a direction of an optical axis and configured to be moved by an operating member driven by an operating member driving unit; an optical member that reflects a portion of light having passed through the movable lens; a target position information acquiring unit that acquires information of a target position of the movable lens by calculating the target position based on the reflected light; and a movable lens driving unit that performs first driving for moving the movable lens based on a position of the operating member detected by an operating member position detection unit, and the operating member driving unit drives the operating member based on the information of the target position.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation application of and claims the priority benefit ofa prior application Ser. No. 16/127,251 filed on Sep. 11, 2018, nowallowed. The prior application Ser. No. 16/127,251 is a continuation ofInternational Application No. PCT/JP2017/003813 filed on Feb. 2, 2017,and claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-070726filed on Mar. 31, 2016, the entire disclosures of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a lens device, a lens system, animaging device, a movable lens operation device, a lens driving method,and a computer readable medium storing a lens driving program.

2. Description of the Related Art

A lens system is known which is provided with a lens device including afocus lens for changing a focus position movably in the direction of anoptical axis, and an operation device for manually moving this focuslens. An example of the operation device includes a so-called focusdemand or the like that moves a focus lens by rotating a rotatableoperating member.

In such a lens system, the lens device may perform auto focus (AF)control for automatically moving the focus lens (see JP2010-164637A andJP2011-138018A).

JP2010-164637A and JP2011-138018A disclose a lens system in which, in acase where an operation device is operated in a state where AF controlis performed, switching to manual focus (MF) control for moving thefocus lens is performed in accordance with the operation of theoperation device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As in JP2010-164637A and JP2011-138018A, the operation device forperforming the MF control is caused to have a function of performing aninstruction for switching between the AF control and the MF control, andthus it is possible to achieve the simplification of the lens system bydispensing with a dedicated member for this switching instruction.

However, in JP2010-164637A and JP2011-138018A, since the position of thefocus lens and the operation position of an operating member during theAF control are not linked to each other, it is not possible tointuitively ascertain the position of the focus lens during the AFcontrol.

The capability of ascertainment of the position of the focus lens duringthe AF control by viewing the operation device makes it possible for anoperator to know the position of the focus lens which is determined by amachine, and thus it is possible to support an imaging operation.

Meanwhile, in a lens system for broadcast, a system is present which iscapable of remotely controlling the position of a focus lens in a lensdevice.

In this system, a person located at a separate place from that of anoperator who operates the lens device in his (or her) hand operates anelectronic device connected to the lens device and indicates a targetposition of the focus lens. The lens device moves the focus lens to theindicated target position during the AF control.

In this manner, in a system in which the position of the focus lensduring the AF control is remotely controlled, the capability ofascertainment of the intention of a person who indicates the position ofthe focus lens by viewing the operation device also makes it possible tosupport an imaging operation for an operator in the field.

Thus far, an example has been given of the focus lens used as a movablelens included in a lens device. An example of the movable lens includedin the lens device includes a zoom lens for changing a focal lengthmovably in the direction of an optical axis.

In a lens system which is provided with a lens device including a zoomlens and an operation device (so-called zoom demand) for manually movingthis zoom lens, a configuration is also considered in which the positionof the zoom lens can be remotely controlled.

In such a configuration, the capability of ascertainment of the positionof the zoom lens during remote control by viewing the zoom demand alsomakes it possible to support an imaging operation for an operator in thefield.

The present invention is contrived in view of such circumstances, and anobject thereof is to provide a lens device, a lens system, an imagingdevice, a movable lens operation device, a lens driving method, and alens driving program which are capable of supporting an imagingoperation by making it possible to intuitively ascertain the position ofa movable lens.

According to the present invention, there is provided a lens devicecomprising: a movable lens capable of being moved in a direction of anoptical axis; a target position information acquiring unit that acquiresinformation of a target position of the movable lens; a target positioninformation transmitting unit that transmits the information of thetarget position to a movable lens operation device including a movableoperating member for moving the movable lens and an operating memberdriving unit that drives the operating member; and a movable lensdriving unit that performs first driving for moving the movable lens onthe basis of a position of the operating member detected by an operatingmember position detection unit that detects the position of theoperating member, wherein the operating member driving unit drives theoperating member on the basis of the information of the target position.

According to the present invention, there is provided a lens systemcomprising: the lens device; and a movable lens operation deviceincluding the operating member, the operating member driving unit, andthe operating member position detection unit.

According to the present invention, there is provided an imaging devicecomprising: the lens system; and an imaging element that captures animage of a subject through the movable lens of the lens device.

According to the present invention, there is a movable lens operationdevice configured to be capable of communicating with a lens deviceincluding a movable lens capable of being moved in a direction of anoptical axis, the movable lens operation device comprising: a movableoperating member for moving the movable lens; an operating memberdriving unit that drives the operating member on the basis ofinformation of a target position of the movable lens received from thelens device; an operating member position detection unit that detects aposition of the operating member; and an operating member positiontransmitting unit that transmits information of the position of theoperating member to a movable lens driving unit of the lens device thatperforms first driving for moving the movable lens on the basis of theposition of the operating member.

According to the present invention, there is provided a lens drivingmethod comprising: a target position information acquiring step ofacquiring information of a target position of a movable lens capable ofbeing moved in a direction of an optical axis; a target positioninformation transmitting step of transmitting the information of thetarget position to a movable lens operation device including anoperating member driving unit that drives a movable operating member formoving the movable lens on the basis of the information of the targetposition; and a movable lens driving step of performing first drivingfor moving the movable lens on the basis of a position of the operatingmember detected by an operating member position detection unit thatdetects the position of the operating member.

According to the present invention, there is provided a lens drivingprogram for causing a computer to execute: a target position informationacquiring step of acquiring information of a target position of amovable lens capable of being moved in a direction of an optical axis; atarget position information transmitting step of transmitting theinformation of the target position to a movable lens operation deviceincluding an operating member driving unit that drives a movableoperating member for moving the movable lens on the basis of theinformation of the target position; and a movable lens driving step ofperforming first driving for moving the movable lens on the basis of aposition of the operating member detected by an operating memberposition detection unit that detects the position of the operatingmember.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a lensdevice, a lens system, an imaging device, a movable lens operationdevice, a lens driving method, and a lens driving program which arecapable of supporting an imaging operation by making it possible tointuitively ascertain the position of a movable lens.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an imagingsystem 1 which is an embodiment of an imaging device of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of anoperating member 121 shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating another configuration exampleof the operating member 121 shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a lens controller 113 shown inFIG. 1 .

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an imagingsystem 2 which is a modification example of the imaging system 1 shownin FIG. 1 .

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an imagingsystem 3 which is a modification example of the imaging system 1 shownin FIG. 1 .

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an imagingsystem 4 which is an embodiment of an imaging device of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of a lens controller 143 shown inFIG. 7 .

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCES

-   1, 2, 3: imaging system-   100: lens system-   110: lens device-   111: focus lens-   112: focus lens driving unit-   113: lens controller-   113 a: target position information acquiring unit-   113 b: target position information transmitting unit-   113 c: movable lens driving unit-   113 d: operation presence/absence determining unit-   114, 117, 125: communication I/F-   115: half mirror-   120: movable lens operation device-   121: operating member-   121 a, 121A: base-   121 e: first scale-   121 f: second scale-   121 d: third scale-   121E: fourth scale-   121F: fifth scale-   121D: sixth scale-   122: position detection unit-   123: operating member driving unit-   124: operation controller-   126: adjusting unit-   200: camera body-   210: imaging element-   220: image processing unit-   300: electronic device-   4: imaging system-   100A: lens system-   140: lens device-   141: zoom lens-   142: zoom lens driving unit-   143: lens controller-   143 a: target position information acquiring unit-   143 b: target position information transmitting unit-   143 c: movable lens driving unit-   143 d: operation presence/absence determining unit-   144, 145, 155: communication I/F-   150: movable lens operation device-   151: operating member-   152: position detection unit-   153: operating member driving unit-   154: operation controller-   200A: camera body-   210A: imaging element-   220A: image processing unit-   300A: electronic device

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an imagingsystem 1 which is an embodiment of an imaging device of the presentinvention.

The imaging system 1 includes a lens system 100 and a camera body 200.

The lens system 100 includes a lens device 110 and a movable lensoperation device 120.

The lens device 110 includes a focus lens 111, a focus lens driving unit112, a lens controller 113, a communication interface (hereinafter,abbreviated to I/F) 114, and a half mirror 115.

The focus lens 111 is a movable lens capable of being moved in thedirection of an optical axis. The focus lens refers to a lens thatadjusts a focus position by moving the direction of the optical axis.

Meanwhile, although not shown in the drawing, the lens device 110 alsoincludes other optical systems such as a lens, a stop and the like forforming a subject image in an imaging element 210. An imaging opticalsystem of the lens device 110 is composed of the focus lens and thisoptical system.

The focus lens driving unit 112 is hardware for performing focusadjustment by moving the focus lens 111 in the direction of the opticalaxis, and is composed of a motor or the like.

The communication I/F 114 is an interface for communicating with themovable lens operation device 120 in a wired or wireless manner.

The half mirror 115 is an optical element disposed on an optical path ofthe imaging optical system including the focus lens 111. The half mirror115 reflects a portion of light having passed through the focus lens 111followed by guiding the reflected light to the lens controller 113, andtransmits the rest of light having passed through the focus lens 111followed by guiding the transmitted light to the imaging element 210.

The lens controller 113 is mainly composed of a processor, and includesa read only memory (ROM) in which a program or the like executed by theprocessor is stored, a random access memory (RAM) used as a work memory,and the like.

The ROM of the lens controller 113 is a computer readable non-transitorystorage medium. A program stored in this ROM is stored in advance duringmanufacturing of the lens device 110. In addition thereto, the programmay be stored by being input from an electronic device such as apersonal computer, or may be stored by being downloaded in the lensdevice 110 through a network.

The lens controller 113 drives and controls the focus lens driving unit112, to thereby adjust the position of the focus lens 111 in thedirection of the optical axis and adjust a focus position.

The lens controller 113 drives and controls the focus lens driving unit112 on the basis of a focus control signal received from the movablelens operation device 120 through the communication I/F 114, andperforms first driving for move the focus lens 111 to a positiondesignated by this focus control signal.

The lens controller 113 calculates the target position (hereinafter,referred to as the focus target position) of the focus lens 111 througha phase difference AF system on the basis of the reflected light fromthe half mirror 115, and transmits information of the calculated focustarget position to the movable lens operation device 120.

The movable lens operation device 120 includes an operating member 121,a position detection unit 122, an operating member driving unit 123, anoperation controller 124, and a communication I/F 125.

The operating member 121 is a movable member for manually moving thefocus lens 111. An example of the operating member 121 includes arotatable member or a slidable member.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example ofthe operating member 121 shown in FIG. 1 .

In the configuration example shown in FIG. 2 , the operating member 121is composed of a rotor supported rotatably with respect to a base 121 a.

A first scale 121 e indicating a nearest end in the movable range of thefocus lens 111 and a second scale 121 f indicating an infinite end inthe movable range of the focus lens 111 are inscribed in the base 121 a.

A range shown by a broken line connecting the first scale 121 e and thesecond scale 121 f in the rotation direction of the operating member 121corresponds to the movable range of the focus lens 111.

A third scale 121 d indicating the position of the current focus lens111 is inscribed in the operating member 121 shown in FIG. 2 . In theconfiguration example shown in FIG. 2 , it is possible to ascertainwhereabouts the focus lens 111 is located depending on the position ofthe third scale 121 d in the range shown by a broken line.

In the configuration example shown in FIG. 2 , it is possible to rotatethe operating member 121 from a state where the third scale 121 d of theoperating member 121 becomes the same as the position of the first scale121 e in the moving direction of the operating member 121 to a statewhere the third scale becomes the same as the position of the secondscale 121 f in the moving direction of the operating member 121.

In the configuration example shown in FIG. 2 , the position of the thirdscale 121 d in the moving direction of the operating member 121 isdefined as the position of the operating member 121.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating another configuration exampleof the operating member 121 shown in FIG. 1 .

In the configuration example shown in FIG. 3 , the operating member 121is composed of a slide member supported movably in a horizontaldirection with respect to a base 121A.

A fourth scale 121E indicating a nearest end in the movable range of thefocus lens 111 and a fifth scale 121F indicating an infinite end in themovable range of the focus lens 111 are inscribed in the base 121A.

A range shown by a broken line connecting the fourth scale 121E and thefifth scale 121F in the rotation direction of the operating member 121corresponds to the movable range of the focus lens 111.

A sixth scale 121D indicating the current position of the focus lens 111is inscribed in the operating member 121 shown in FIG. 3 . In theconfiguration example shown in FIG. 3 , it is possible to ascertainwhereabouts the focus lens 111 is located depending on the position ofthe sixth scale 121D in the range shown by a broken line.

In the configuration example shown in FIG. 3 , it is possible to slidethe operating member 121 from a state where the sixth scale 121D of theoperating member 121 becomes the same as the position of the fourthscale 121E in the moving direction of the operating member 121 to astate where the sixth scale becomes the same as the position of thefifth scale 121F in the moving direction of the operating member 121.

In the configuration example shown in FIG. 3 , the position of the sixthscale 121D in the moving direction of the operating member 121 isdefined as the position of the operating member 121.

Referring back to FIG. 1 , the position detection unit 122 of themovable lens operation device 120 is hardware for detecting the position(hereinafter, referred to as the operation position) of the operatingmember 121, and has a sensor using a Hall element, a magneto-resistiveeffect element, or the like used thereas.

An operation position signal detected by the position detection unit 122is sent to the operation controller 124. The position detection unit 122composes an operating member position detection unit.

The operating member driving unit 123 is hardware for driving theoperating member 121, and is composed of a motor or the like.

The communication I/F 125 is an interface for communicating with thelens device 110 in a wired or wireless manner.

The operation controller 124 is mainly composed of a processor, andincludes a ROM in which a program or the like executed by the processoris stored, a RAM used as a work memory, and the like.

Data indicating a correspondence relation between the position of thefocus lens 111 and the operation position of the operating member 121 isstored in advance in the ROM of the operation controller 124.

The operation controller 124 drives and controls the operating memberdriving unit 123 on the basis of information of a focus target positionreceived from the lens device 110, to thereby move the operating member121 to an operation position corresponding to this focus targetposition.

On the basis of an operation position signal which is input from theposition detection unit 122, the operation controller 124 transmits afocus control signal, including information of an operation positionbased on this operation position signal, to the lens device 110 throughthe communication I/F 125. The operation controller 124 composes anoperating member position transmitting unit.

The camera body 200 includes an imaging element 210 and an imageprocessing unit 220.

The imaging element 210 captures a subject image formed by the imagingoptical system of the lens device 110 and outputs a captured imagesignal.

The image processing unit 220 performs signal processing on the capturedimage signal which is output from the imaging element 210, and outputsthe processed signal as a video signal.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the lens controller 113 shown inFIG. 1 .

The lens controller 113 includes a target position information acquiringunit 113 a, a target position information transmitting unit 113 b, amovable lens driving unit 113 c, and an operation presence/absencedetermining unit 113 d.

The target position information acquiring unit 113 a, the targetposition information transmitting unit 113 b, the movable lens drivingunit 113 c, and the operation presence/absence determining unit 113 dare configured by a program stored in the ROM of the lens controller 113being executed by the processor of the lens controller 113. This programincludes a lens driving program.

Data indicating a correspondence relation between operation position ofthe operating member 121 and the position of the focus lens 111 in thedirection of the optical axis are stored in advance in the ROM of thelens controller 113.

The target position information acquiring unit 113 a calculates a focustarget position through a phase difference AF system on the basis of thereflected light from the half mirror 115, to thereby acquire informationof the focus target position through calculation.

A system by which the target position information acquiring unit 113 acalculates a focus target position is not limited to the phasedifference AF system. For example, a contrast AF system may be adopted.

In a case where the focus target position is calculated by the contrastAF system, the target position information acquiring unit 113 a controlsthe focus lens driving unit 112 to sequentially move the focus lens 111,and acquires a captured image signal obtained by capturing an image bythe imaging element 210 in a state where the focus lens 111 is locatedat each movement position.

The target position information acquiring unit 113 a calculates acontrast evaluation value on the basis of the acquired captured imagesignal, and sets the position of the focus lens 111 when the contrastevaluation value becomes maximum to the focus target position.

The target position information transmitting unit 113 b transmits theinformation of the focus target position acquired by the target positioninformation acquiring unit 113 a to the movable lens operation device120 through the communication I/F 114.

The movable lens driving unit 113 c reads out the position of the focuslens 111 corresponding to an operation position included in the focuscontrol signal, from the ROM of the lens controller 113, on the basis ofthe focus control signal received from the movable lens operation device120, and performs the first driving for moving the focus lens 111 to theread-out position.

The operation presence/absence determining unit 113 d determines whetherthe operating member 121 is operated. This determination method isarbitrary.

For example, the operation presence/absence determining unit 113 dacquires an output signal of a pressure sensor or the like provided tothe operating member 121 from the movable lens operation device 120, andperforms the above determination depending on whether the operatingmember 121 is touched by an operator, on the basis of the acquiredoutput signal.

Alternatively, the operation presence/absence determining unit 113 dacquires information of an operation position corresponding to the focustarget position acquired by the target position information acquiringunit 113 a and information of the operation position detected by theposition detection unit 122 of the movable lens operation device 120,from the movable lens operation device 120.

The operation presence/absence determining unit 113 d determines thatthe operating member 121 is operated in a case where a differencebetween these two operation positions is equal to or greater than athreshold value, and determines that the operating member 121 is notoperated in a case where this difference is less than the thresholdvalue.

These two operation positions are substantially coincident with eachother in a state where the operating member 121 is not operated.Therefore, it is possible to determine whether the operating member 121is operated, depending on the difference between these two operationpositions.

Meanwhile, the operation controller 124 of the movable lens operationdevice 120 may determine whether the operating member 121 is operatedusing the aforementioned method, and transmit information indicating thedetermination result to the lens controller 113. The lens controller 113may perform the above determination on the basis of this information.

The operations of the imaging system 1 configured in this manner will bedescribed below.

In the operation of the imaging system 1, a focus target position isperiodically calculated in the lens device 110, and information of thefocus target position is transmitted to the movable lens operationdevice 120.

In a case where the information of the focus target position is receivedfrom the lens device 110, the operation controller 124 of the movablelens operation device 120 reads out an operation position correspondingto this focus target position from the ROM, and moves the operatingmember 121 to the read-out operation position.

In addition, in the operation of the imaging system 1, the operationposition of the operating member 121 is detected at all times in themovable lens operation device 120, and a focus control signal includingthe detected operation position is transmitted from the movable lensoperation device 120 to the lens device 110.

In a case where the focus control signal is received from the movablelens operation device 120, the movable lens driving unit 113 c of thelens device 110 performs the first driving for moving the focus lens 111to a position corresponding to the current operation position, on thebasis of this focus control signal.

Based on the above-described operations, the focus lens 111 is driven atthe focus target position in a state where the operating member 121 isnot operated. In addition, the operating member 121 has the operationposition thereof changed in accordance with the focus target position.

In a case where the operating member 121 is operated in the operation ofthe imaging system 1, it is determined by the operation presence/absencedetermining unit 113 d of the lens device 110 that the operating member121 is operated, and the operation controller 124 of the movable lensoperation device 120 controls the driving force of the operating memberdriving unit 123 for the operating member 121 to a first driving force.

In a case where the operating member 121 is not operated, it isdetermined by the operation presence/absence determining unit 113 d ofthe lens device 110 that the operating member 121 is not operated, andthe operation controller 124 of the movable lens operation device 120controls the driving force of the operating member driving unit 123 forthe operating member 121 to a second driving force. The second drivingforce has a value larger than that of the first driving force.

Meanwhile, the operation controller 124 may control the driving force ofthe operating member driving unit 123 for the operating member 121 so asto be constant, regardless of the presence or absence of the operationof the operating member 121.

Based on the above-described operations, in a case where a user of theimaging system 1 operates the operating member 121 to move the operatingmember 121 to a desired operation position, the focus lens 111 moves toa position corresponding to this operation position. That is, focusadjustment in an MF mode can be performed.

In addition, in a state where a user of the imaging system 1 does notoperate the operating member 121, the operation position of theoperating member 121 changes in accordance with the focus targetposition calculated by the lens device 110. Thereby, it is possible fora user of the imaging system 1 to intuitively ascertain the focus targetposition determined by the lens device 110.

In this manner, the focus target position determined by the lens device110 can be ascertained, and thus it is possible to refer to the movementof the operating member 121 during focus adjustment in an MF mode, andto support an imaging operation.

In addition, according to the imaging system 1, the operating member 121is driven at all times on the basis of the focus target positioncalculated by the lens device 110, regardless of the presence or absenceof its operation.

Therefore, even in a case where the operating member 121 is beingoperated, a user can intuitively ascertain where, relative to thecurrent position, the focus target position is located on the basis ofthe driving force of the operating member driving unit 123 for theoperating member 121.

Therefore, it is possible to refer to the movement of the operatingmember 121 during focus adjustment in an MF mode, and to support animaging operation.

In addition, according to the imaging system 1, in a case where theoperating member 121 is operated, the driving force for the operatingmember 121 is controlled so as to be smaller than in a case where theoperating member 121 is not operated. Therefore, the operating member121 has a tendency to be moved during focus adjustment in an MF mode,and thus it is possible to improve its operability.

In addition, according to the imaging system 1, since the focus lens 111is configured to move in accordance with the operation position of theoperating member 121, the versatility of an existing system is high, andthus it is possible to reduce manufacturing costs by simplifying thesystem.

Meanwhile, in the imaging system 1, the operating member driving unit123 may stop driving the operating member 121 in a case where it isdetermined by the operation presence/absence determining unit 113 d ofthe lens device 110 that the operating member 121 is operated.

With this configuration, the operating member 121 has a tendency to bemoved during focus adjustment in an MF mode, and thus it is possible toimprove its operability.

In addition, in the imaging system 1, the movable lens driving unit 113c of the lens controller 113 may selectively perform second driving formoving the focus lens 111 to the focus target position on the basis ofthe information of the focus target position acquired by the targetposition information acquiring unit 113 a, and the first driving.

Switching between the first driving and the second driving is performed,for example, in accordance with the operation of a switching buttonprovided to the lens system 100.

With this configuration, during the second driving, it is possible todrive the focus lens 111 regardless of the driving capability of theoperating member 151, and to perform flexible focus adjustment.

Meanwhile, it is also possible to switch between the first driving andthe second driving depending on the operation state of the operatingmember 121 without using the switching button.

For example, the movable lens driving unit 113 c performs the firstdriving in a case where it is determined by the operationpresence/absence determining unit 113 d that the operating member 121 isoperated, and performs the second driving in a case where it isdetermined by the operation presence/absence determining unit 113 d thatthe operating member 121 is not operated.

With this configuration, since switching between the first driving andthe second driving can be performed without using a dedicated button, itis possible to reduce the manufacturing cost of the lens system 100.

In this manner, even in a configuration for switching between the firstdriving and the second driving depending on the presence or absence ofthe operation of the operating member, the driving of the operatingmember 121 is stopped in a case where the first driving is performed, orthe driving force for the operating member 121 is made smaller than in acase where the second driving is performed, and thus it is possible toimprove its operability.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an imagingsystem 2 which is a modification example of the imaging system 1 shownin FIG. 1 .

The imaging system 2 is a system capable of remotely controlling theposition of the focus lens 111 in the lens device 110.

The imaging system 2 has the same configuration as that of the imagingsystem 1, except that a communication I/F 117 and an electronic device300 are added, and that some functions of the lens controller 113 aredifferent from each other. In FIG. 5 , the same components as those inFIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals and signs, and thusthe description thereof will not be given.

The electronic device 300 is an electronic device capable of inputtinginformation to the lens device 110, and is, for example, a personalcomputer or the like.

The communication I/F 117 of the lens device 110 is an interface forcommunicating with the electronic device 300 in a wired or wirelessmanner. The communication I/F 117 composes a communication unit forcommunicating with the electronic device 300.

The functional block diagram of the lens controller 113 is the same asthat of the configuration shown in FIG. 4 , but the function of thetarget position information acquiring unit 113 a is different from thatstated above, and thus a description will be given below.

The target position information acquiring unit 113 a of the lenscontroller 113 in the imaging system 2 operates in any of a remoteacquisition mode and a calculation acquisition mode.

The remote acquisition mode is a mode for acquiring the information of afocus target position from the electronic device 300 through thecommunication I/F 117.

The calculation acquisition mode is mode for acquiring the informationof a focus target position using calculation through the phasedifference AF system or the contrast AF system as described above.

Switching between the remote acquisition mode and the calculationacquisition mode is performed by the operation of a button, not shown inthe drawing, which is provided to the imaging system 2, or the like.

According to the imaging system 2 configured in this manner, it ispossible to obtain the same effect as that of the imaging system 1. Inaddition, since switching between the remote acquisition mode and thecalculation acquisition mode can be performed, it is possible to copewith a case of remotely controlling the position of the focus lens 111.

During the remote acquisition mode, a user of the imaging system 2 canascertain the intention of a person who indicates the target position ofthe focus lens 111 by confirming the operation position of the operatingmember 121.

Since this person's intention can be referred to in a case where focusadjustment is performed in an MF mode, it is possible to support animaging operation.

In the imaging system 2, the movable lens driving unit 113 c of the lenscontroller 113 can also selectively perform the first driving and thesecond driving.

In addition, the target position information acquiring unit 113 a of thelens controller 113 in the imaging system 2 may be configured to operateonly in the remote acquisition mode. In this case, the half mirror 115is not required in FIG. 5 .

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an imagingsystem 3 which is a modification example of the imaging system 1 shownin FIG. 1 .

The imaging system 3 has the same configuration as that in FIG. 1 ,except that an adjusting unit 126 is added to the movable lens operationdevice 120. In FIG. 6 , the same components as those in FIG. 1 aredenoted by the same reference numerals and signs, and thus thedescription thereof will not be given.

The adjusting unit 126 adjusts the driving force of the operating memberdriving unit 123 for the operating member 121.

The adjusting unit 126 electrically changes the driving force of theoperating member driving unit 123 for the operating member 121, andchanges the driving force.

Alternatively, the adjusting unit 126 may change the amount of movementin a case where the operating member 121 is moved using a predeterminedforce by adding a member that attenuates the force of a damper or thelike to the operating member 121, and change the driving force.

According to the imaging system 3, it is possible to adjust the drivingforce of the operating member driving unit 123 in accordance with auser's preference. In addition, the driving force of the operatingmember driving unit 123 can be adjusted, whereby, without making achange to the lens device 110, it is possible to adjust responsivenessto the movement of the focus lens 111 during an MF mode, and to reducethe manufacturing cost of the system.

The adjusting unit 126 can be similarly applied to the imaging system 2shown in FIG. 5 .

Thus far, a case has been described in which the movable lens includedin the lens device 110 is a focus lens, but the present invention canalso be applied to a zoom lens for adjusting a focal length which ismovable in the direction of the optical axis.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an imagingsystem 4 which is an embodiment of an imaging device of the presentinvention.

The imaging system 4 includes a lens system 100A, a camera body 200A,and an electronic device 300A.

The lens system 100A includes a lens device 140 and a movable lensoperation device 150.

The electronic device 300 is an electronic device capable of inputtinginformation to the lens device 140, and is, for example, a personalcomputer or the like.

The lens device 140 includes a zoom lens 141, a zoom lens driving unit142, a lens controller 143, a communication I/F 144, and a communicationI/F 145.

The zoom lens 141 is a movable lens capable of being moved in thedirection of the optical axis. The zoom lens refers to a lens thatadjusts a focal length by moving the direction of the optical axis.

Meanwhile, although not shown in the drawing, the lens device 140 alsoincludes other optical systems, such as a lens, a stop or the like, forforming a subject image in the imaging element 210A. An imaging opticalsystem of the lens device 140 is composed of the zoom lens and thisoptical system.

The zoom lens driving unit 142 is hardware for adjusting a focal lengthby moving the zoom lens 141 in the direction of the optical axis, and iscomposed of a motor or the like.

The communication I/F 144 is an interface for communicating with themovable lens operation device 150 in a wired or wireless manner.

The communication I/F 145 is an interface for communicating with theelectronic device 300 in a wired or wireless manner. The communicationI/F 145 composes a communication unit for communicating with theelectronic device 300.

The lens controller 143 is mainly composed of a processor, and includesa ROM in which a program or the like executed by the processor isstored, a RAM used as a work memory, and the like.

The ROM of the lens controller 143 is a computer readable non-transitorystorage medium.

A program stored in this ROM is stored in advance during manufacturingof the lens device 140. In addition thereto, the program may be storedby being input from an electronic device such as a personal computer, ormay be stored by being downloaded in the lens device 140 through anetwork.

The lens controller 143 drives and controls the zoom lens driving unit142, to thereby adjust the position of the zoom lens 141 in thedirection of the optical axis and adjust a focal length.

The lens controller 143 transmits information of the target position(hereinafter, referred to as the zoom target position) of the zoom lens141, acquired from the electronic device 300, to the movable lensoperation device 150.

The movable lens operation device 150 includes an operating member 151,a position detection unit 152, an operating member driving unit 153, anoperation controller 154, and a communication I/F 155.

The operating member 151 is a movable member for manually moving thezoom lens 141. An example of the operating member 151 includes arotatable member or a slidable member, as illustrated in FIG. 2 or 3 .

For example, the operating member 151 is configured such that, in FIG. 2, the operating member 121 is changed to the operating member 151, thefirst scale 121 e is changed to information indicating a wide end, andthat the second scale 121 f is changed to information indicating atelephoto end. In this configuration example, the position of the thirdscale 121 d in the moving direction of the operating member 151 isdefined as the position of the operating member 151.

The position detection unit 152 is hardware for detecting the position(hereinafter, referred to as the operation position) of the operatingmember 151, and has a sensor using a Hall element, a magneto-resistiveeffect element, or the like used thereas.

An operation position signal detected by the position detection unit 152is sent to the operation controller 154. The position detection unit 152composes an operating member position detection unit.

The operating member driving unit 153 is hardware for driving theoperating member 151, and is composed of a motor or the like.

The communication I/F 155 is an interface for communicating with thelens device 140 in a wired or wireless manner.

The operation controller 154 is mainly composed of a processor, andincludes a ROM in which a program or the like executed by the processoris stored, a RAM used as a work memory, and the like.

Data indicating a correspondence relation between the position of thezoom lens 141 and the operation position of the operating member 151 isstored in advance in the ROM of the operation controller 154.

The operation controller 154 drives and controls the operating memberdriving unit 153 on the basis of information of a zoom target positionreceived from the lens device 140, to thereby move the operating member151 to an operation position corresponding to this zoom target position.

On the basis of an operation position signal which is input from theposition detection unit 152, the operation controller 154 transmits azoom control signal, including information of an operation positionbased on this operation position signal, to the lens device 140 throughthe communication I/F 155. The operation controller 154 composes anoperating member position transmitting unit.

The camera body 200A includes an imaging element 210A and an imageprocessing unit 220A.

The imaging element 210A captures a subject image formed by the imagingoptical system of the lens device 140 and outputs a captured imagesignal.

The image processing unit 220A performs signal processing on thecaptured image signal which is output from the imaging element 210A, andoutputs the processed signal as a video signal.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of the lens controller 143 shown inFIG. 7 .

The lens controller 143 includes a target position information acquiringunit 143 a, a target position information transmitting unit 143 b, amovable lens driving unit 143 c, and an operation presence/absencedetermining unit 143 d.

The target position information acquiring unit 143 a, the targetposition information transmitting unit 143 b, the movable lens drivingunit 143 c, and the operation presence/absence determining unit 143 dare configured by a program stored in the ROM of the lens controller 143being executed by the processor of the lens controller 143. This programincludes a lens driving program.

Data indicating a correspondence relation between the operation positionof the operating member 151 and the position of the zoom lens 141 in thedirection of the optical axis is stored in advance in the ROM of thelens controller 143.

The target position information acquiring unit 143 a acquiresinformation of a zoom target position from the electronic device 300.

The target position information transmitting unit 143 b transmits theinformation of the zoom target position acquired by the target positioninformation acquiring unit 143 a to the movable lens operation device150 through the communication I/F 144.

The operation presence/absence determining unit 143 d determines whetherthe operating member 151 is operated. This determination method isarbitrary.

For example, the operation presence/absence determining unit 143 dacquires an output signal of a pressure sensor or the like provided tothe operating member 151 from the movable lens operation device 150, andperforms the above determination depending on whether the operatingmember 151 is touched by an operator, on the basis of the acquiredoutput signal.

Alternatively, the operation presence/absence determining unit 143 dacquires information of an operation position corresponding to the zoomtarget position acquired by the target position information acquiringunit 143 a and information of the operation position detected by theposition detection unit 152 of the movable lens operation device 150,from the movable lens operation device 150.

The operation presence/absence determining unit 143 d determines thatthe operating member 151 is operated in a case where a differencebetween these two operation positions is equal to or greater than athreshold value, and determines that the operating member 151 is notoperated in a case where this difference is less than the thresholdvalue.

Meanwhile, the operation controller 154 may determine whether theoperating member 151 is operated using the aforementioned method, andtransmit information indicating the determination result to the lenscontroller 143. The lens controller 143 may perform the abovedetermination on the basis of this information.

The movable lens driving unit 143 c reads out the position of the zoomlens 141 corresponding to an operation position included in the zoomcontrol signal, from the ROM of the lens controller 143, on the basis ofthe zoom control signal received from the movable lens operation device150, and performs the first driving for moving the zoom lens 141 to theread-out position.

The operations of the imaging system 4 configured in this manner will bedescribed below.

In the operation of the imaging system 4, the information of the zoomtarget position is periodically transmitted from the electronic device300 to the lens controller 143. In a case where the information of thezoom target position is acquired from the electronic device 300, thelens controller 143 of the lens device 140 transmits this information ofthe zoom target position to the operation controller 154.

In a case where the information of the zoom target position is receivedfrom the lens device 140, the operation controller 154 of the movablelens operation device 150 reads out an operation position correspondingto this zoom target position from the ROM, and moves the operatingmember 151 to the read-out operation position.

In addition, in the operation of the imaging system 4, the operationposition of the operating member 151 is detected at all times in themovable lens operation device 150, and a zoom control signal includingthe detected operation position is transmitted from the movable lensoperation device 150 to the lens device 140.

In a case where the zoom control signal is received from the movablelens operation device 150, the movable lens driving unit 143 c of thelens device 140 performs the first driving for moving the zoom lens 141to a position corresponding to the current operation position on thebasis of this zoom control signal.

Thereby, in a state where the operating member 151 is not operated, thezoom lens 141 is driven to a zoom target position designated from theelectronic device 300. In addition, the operating member 151 has itsoperation position changed in accordance with the zoom target positiondesignated from the electronic device 300.

In a case where the operating member 151 is operated in the operation ofthe imaging system 4, it is determined by the operation presence/absencedetermining unit 143 d of the lens device 140 that the operating member151 is operated, and the operation controller 154 of the movable lensoperation device 150 controls the driving force of the operating memberdriving unit 153 for the operating member 151 so as to have a valuesmaller than that in a case where the operating member 151 is notoperated.

Meanwhile, the operation controller 154 may control the driving force ofthe operating member driving unit 153 for the operating member 151 so asto be constant, regardless of the presence or absence of the operationof the operating member 151.

Based on the above-described operations, in a case where a user of theimaging system 4 operates the operating member 151 to move the operatingmember 151 to a desired operation position, the zoom lens 141 moves to aposition corresponding to this operation position. That is, manual zoomadjustment can be performed.

In addition, in a state where a user of the imaging system 4 does notoperate the operating member 151, the operating member 151 moves to anoperation position based on the zoom target position acquired by thelens controller 143. The zoom lens 141 then moves to a positionaccording to this operation position of the operating member 151.

Thereby, it is possible for a user of the imaging system 4 tointuitively ascertain the zoom target position designated from theelectronic device 300.

In this manner, the zoom target position designated from the electronicdevice 300 can be ascertained, and thus it is possible to refer to themovement of the operating member during manual focal length adjustment,and to support an imaging operation.

In addition, according to the imaging system 4, the operating member 151is driven at all times on the basis of the zoom target position acquiredby the lens device 140, regardless of the presence or absence of itsoperation.

Therefore, even in a case where the operating member 151 is beingoperated, a user can intuitively ascertain where, relative to thecurrent position, the zoom target position is located on the basis ofthe driving force of the operating member driving unit 153 for theoperating member 151.

Therefore, it is possible to refer to the movement of the operatingmember 151 during manual focal length adjustment, and to support animaging operation.

In addition, according to the imaging system 4, in a case where theoperating member 151 is operated, the driving force for the operatingmember 151 is controlled so as to be smaller than in a case where theoperating member 151 is not operated. Therefore, the operating member151 has a tendency to be moved during focal length adjustment, and thusit is possible to improve its operability.

In addition, according to the imaging system 4, since the zoom lens 141is configured to move in accordance with the operation position of theoperating member 151, the versatility of an existing system is high, andthus it is possible to reduce manufacturing costs by simplifying thesystem.

Meanwhile, in the imaging system 4, the operating member driving unit153 may stop driving the operating member 151 in a case where it isdetermined by the operation presence/absence determining unit 143 d ofthe lens device 140 that the operating member 151 is operated.

With this configuration, the operating member 121 has a tendency to bemoved during manual focal length adjustment, and thus it is possible toimprove its operability.

In addition, in the imaging system 4, the movable lens driving unit 143c of the lens controller 143 may selectively perform second driving formoving the zoom lens 141 to this zoom target position on the basis ofthe information of the zoom target position acquired by the targetposition information acquiring unit 143 a, and the first driving.

Switching between the first driving and the second driving is performed,for example, in accordance with the operation of a switching buttonprovided to the lens system 100A.

With this configuration, during the second driving, it is possible todrive the zoom lens 141 regardless of the driving capability of theoperating member 151, and to perform flexible zoom control.

Meanwhile, it is also possible to switch between the first driving andthe second driving depending on the operation state of the operatingmember 151 without using the switching button.

For example, the movable lens driving unit 143 c performs the firstdriving in a case where it is determined by the operationpresence/absence determining unit 143 d that the operating member 151 isoperated, and performs the second driving in a case where it isdetermined by the operation presence/absence determining unit 143 d thatthe operating member 151 is not operated.

With this configuration, since switching between the two modes can beperformed without using a dedicated button, it is possible to reduce themanufacturing cost of the lens system 100A.

In this manner, even in a configuration for switching between the firstdriving and the second driving depending on the presence or absence ofthe operation of the operating member 151, the driving of the operatingmember 151 is stopped in a case where the first driving is performed, orthe driving force for the operating member 151 is made smaller than in acase where the second driving is performed, and thus it is possible toimprove its operability.

In the imaging system 4, the driving force of the operating memberdriving unit 153 for the operating member 151 may be able to be adjustedby applying the adjusting unit 126 shown in FIG. 6 .

In the imaging systems 1 to 4, the lens device and the movable lensoperation device may be configured to be formed integrally with eachother. In this case, the lens controller also takes charge of thefunction of the operation controller, and the operating member, theoperating member driving unit, and the position detection unit compose amovable lens operation device.

The imaging system 1 and the imaging system 3 can be applied to alens-integrated digital camera, a lens-switched digital camera, and animaging system for broadcast. The imaging system 2 and the imagingsystem 4 can be applied to an imaging system for broadcast.

As described above, the following are disclosed in the presentspecification.

There is disclosed a lens device comprising: a movable lens capable ofbeing moved in a direction of an optical axis; a target positioninformation acquiring unit that acquires information of a targetposition of the movable lens; a target position information transmittingunit that transmits the information of the target position to a movablelens operation device including a movable operating member for movingthe movable lens and an operating member driving unit that drives theoperating member; and a movable lens driving unit that performs firstdriving for moving the movable lens on the basis of a position of theoperating member detected by an operating member position detection unitthat detects the position of the operating member, wherein the operatingmember driving unit drives the operating member on the basis of theinformation of the target position.

In the disclosed lens device, the movable lens driving unit selectivelyperforms second driving for moving the movable lens to the targetposition on the basis of the information of the target position, and thefirst driving.

The disclosed lens device further comprises an operationpresence/absence determining unit that determines whether the operatingmember is operated, wherein the movable lens driving unit performs thefirst driving in a case where the operating member is operated, andperforms the second driving in a case where the operating member is notoperated.

In the disclosed lens device, the operating member driving unit drivesthe operating member on the basis of the information of the targetposition in each of a case where the operating member is operated and acase where the operating member is not operated.

In the disclosed lens device, in a case where the operating member isoperated, the operating member driving unit makes a driving force forthe operating member smaller than in a case where the operating memberis not operated.

In the disclosed lens device, the operating member driving unit stopsdriving the operating member in a case where the operating member isoperated.

In the disclosed lens device, the operation presence/absence determiningunit determines that the operating member is operated in a case where adifference between the position of the operating member based on theinformation of the target position and the position of the operatingmember detected by the operating member position detection unit is equalto or greater than a threshold value.

In the disclosed lens device, in a case where the operating member isoperated, the operating member driving unit makes a driving force forthe operating member smaller than in a case where the operating memberis not operated.

In the disclosed lens device, the operating member driving unit stopsdriving the operating member in a case where the operating member isoperated.

The disclosed lens device further comprises an operationpresence/absence determining unit that determines whether the operatingmember is operated, wherein the operation presence/absence determiningunit determines that the operating member is operated in a case where adifference between the position of the operating member based on theinformation of the target position and the position of the operatingmember detected by the operating member position detection unit is equalto or greater than a threshold value.

In the disclosed lens device, the target position information acquiringunit acquires the information of the target position by calculating thetarget position on the basis of light having passed through the movablelens.

The disclosed lens device further comprises a communication unit forcommunicating with an electronic device, wherein the target positioninformation acquiring unit acquires the information of the targetposition from the electronic device through the communication unit.

There is a disclosed lens system comprising: the lens device; and amovable lens operation device including the operating member, theoperating member driving unit, and the operating member positiondetection unit.

The disclosed lens system further comprises an adjusting unit thatadjusts a driving force of the operating member driving unit.

There is a disclosed imaging device comprising: the lens system; and animaging element that captures an image of a subject through the movablelens of the lens device.

There is disclosed a movable lens operation device configured to becapable of communicating with a lens device including a movable lenscapable of being moved in a direction of an optical axis, the movablelens operation device comprising: a movable operating member for movingthe movable lens; an operating member driving unit that drives theoperating member on the basis of information of a target position of themovable lens received from the lens device; an operating member positiondetection unit that detects a position of the operating member; and anoperating member position transmitting unit that transmits informationof the position of the operating member to a movable lens driving unitof the lens device that performs first driving for moving the movablelens on the basis of the position of the operating member.

In the disclosed movable lens operation device, the movable lens drivingunit selectively performs second driving for moving the movable lens tothe target position on the basis of the information of the targetposition, and the first driving.

In the disclosed movable lens operation device, the lens device furtherincludes an operation presence/absence determining unit that determineswhether the operating member is operated, and the movable lens drivingunit performs the first driving in a case where the operating member isoperated, and performs the second driving in a case where the operatingmember is not operated.

In the disclosed movable lens operation device, the operating memberdriving unit drives the operating member on the basis of the informationof the target position in each of a case where the operating member isoperated and a case where the operating member is not operated.

In the disclosed movable lens operation device, in a case where theoperating member is operated, the operating member driving unit makes adriving force for the operating member smaller than in a case where theoperating member is not operated.

In the disclosed movable lens operation device, the operating memberdriving unit stops driving the operating member in a case where theoperating member is operated.

In the disclosed movable lens operation device, the operationpresence/absence determining unit determines that the operating memberis operated in a case where a difference between the position of theoperating member based on the information of the target position and theposition of the operating member detected by the operating memberposition detection unit is equal to or greater than a threshold value.

In the disclosed movable lens operation device, in a case where theoperating member is operated, the operating member driving unit makes adriving force for the operating member smaller than in a case where theoperating member is not operated.

In the disclosed movable lens operation device, the operating memberdriving unit stops driving the operating member in a case where theoperating member is operated.

In the disclosed movable lens operation device, the lens device includesan operation presence/absence determining unit that determines whetherthe operating member is operated, and the operation presence/absencedetermining unit determines that the operating member is operated in acase where a difference between the position of the operating memberbased on the information of the target position and the position of theoperating member detected by the operating member position detectionunit is equal to or greater than a threshold value.

The disclosed movable lens operation device further comprises anadjusting unit that adjusts a driving force of the operating memberdriving unit.

There is disclosed a lens driving method comprising: a target positioninformation acquiring step of acquiring information of a target positionof a movable lens capable of being moved in a direction of an opticalaxis; a target position information transmitting step of transmittingthe information of the target position to a movable lens operationdevice including an operating member driving unit that drives a movableoperating member for moving the movable lens on the basis of theinformation of the target position; and a movable lens driving step ofperforming first driving for moving the movable lens on the basis of aposition of the operating member detected by an operating memberposition detection unit that detects the position of the operatingmember.

In the disclosed lens driving method, the movable lens driving stepincludes selectively performing second driving for moving the movablelens to the target position on the basis of the information of thetarget position, and the first driving.

The disclosed lens driving method further comprises an operationpresence/absence determining step of determining whether the operatingmember is operated, wherein the movable lens driving step includesperforming the first driving in a case where the operating member isoperated, and performing the second driving in a case where theoperating member is not operated.

In the disclosed lens driving method, the operating member driving unitdrives the operating member on the basis of the information of thetarget position in each of a case where the operating member is operatedand a case where the operating member is not operated.

In the disclosed lens driving method, in a case where the operatingmember is operated, the operating member driving unit makes a drivingforce for the operating member smaller than in a case where theoperating member is not operated.

In the disclosed lens driving method, the operating member driving unitstops driving the operating member in a case where the operating memberis operated.

In the disclosed lens driving method, the operation presence/absencedetermining step includes determining that the operating member isoperated in a case where a difference between the position of theoperating member based on the information of the target position and theposition of the operating member detected by the operating memberposition detection unit is equal to or greater than a threshold value.

In the disclosed lens driving method, in a case where the operatingmember is operated, the operating member driving unit makes a drivingforce for the operating member smaller than in a case where theoperating member is not operated.

In the disclosed lens driving method, the operating member driving unitstops driving the operating member in a case where the operating memberis operated.

The disclosed lens driving method further comprises an operationpresence/absence determining step of determining whether the operatingmember is operated, wherein the operation presence/absence determiningstep includes determining that the operating member is operated in acase where a difference between the position of the operating memberbased on the information of the target position and the position of theoperating member detected by the operating member position detectionunit is equal to or greater than a threshold value.

In the disclosed lens driving method, the target position informationacquiring step includes acquiring the information of the target positionby calculating the target position on the basis of light having passedthrough the movable lens.

In the disclosed lens driving method, the target position informationacquiring step includes acquiring the information of the target positionfrom an electronic device capable of communicating with a lens deviceincluding the movable lens.

There is disclosed a lens driving program for causing a computer toexecute: a target position information acquiring step of acquiringinformation of a target position of a movable lens capable of beingmoved in a direction of an optical axis; a target position informationtransmitting step of transmitting the information of the target positionto a movable lens operation device including an operating member drivingunit that drives a movable operating member for moving the movable lenson the basis of the information of the target position; and a movablelens driving step of performing first driving for moving the movablelens on the basis of a position of the operating member detected by anoperating member position detection unit that detects the position ofthe operating member.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a lensdevice, a lens system, an imaging device, a movable lens operationdevice, a lens driving method, and a lens driving program which arecapable of supporting an imaging operation by making it possible tointuitively ascertain the position of a movable lens.

Hereinbefore, while the present invention has been described on thebasis of a specific embodiment, the present invention is not limited tothis embodiment, and various changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the technical idea of the invention disclosed.

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No.2016-070726 filed on Mar. 31, 2016, the content of which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. A lens device comprising: a movable lens capableof being moved in a direction of an optical axis, wherein the movablelens is configured to be moved by an operating member driven by anoperating member driving unit; an optical member that reflects a portionof light having passed through the movable lens; a target positioninformation acquiring unit that acquires information of a targetposition of the movable lens by calculating the target position based onthe reflected light; a movable lens driving unit that selectivelyperforms: first driving for moving the movable lens based on a positionof the operating member detected by an operating member positiondetection unit; and second driving for moving the movable lens to thetarget position based on the information of the target position; and anoperation presence/absence determining unit that determines whether theoperating member is operated, wherein the movable lens driving unitperforms the first driving in a case where the operating member isoperated, and performs the second driving in a case where the operatingmember is not operated, and the operating member driving unit drives theoperating member based on the information of the target position in eachof a case where the operating member is operated and a case where theoperating member is not operated, and in a case where the operatingmember is operated, the operating member driving unit makes a drivingforce for the operating member smaller than in a case where theoperating member is not operated, wherein the operating member is drivenat all times during the first driving and the second driving.
 2. Thelens device according to claim 1, wherein the operation presence/absencedetermining unit determines that the operating member is operated in acase where a difference between the position of the operating memberbased on the information of the target position and the position of theoperating member detected by the operating member position detectionunit is equal to or greater than a threshold value.